The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-12-20
Daluatfal1 0azette
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 20. 1857.
FULL ACCOUNT
OF THE
TROUBLE At PONAPE.
Massacre of Natives
and Spaniards.
TROUBLE AT PONAPE.

The following detailed account of
the trouble between the Spaniards
and Ponapeans, was sent by Capt.
G. f. Garland, of the bark Morning
Star, to Rev. A. O. Forbes, Secretary
of the Hawaiian Board of Missions,
by whose courtesy we are permitted
to publish it.:
AT SEA, August 80, 1887.
We are now nearing Jaluit in the
Marshall Islands, on our way to the
Gilbert group. Before this reaches
you, presume you will have heard
something about affairs in Ponape.
Upon arriving at Ponape we were
much surprised to find the Island in
very unsettled state. 1t seems that
the Spanish came there in March,
and soon after, not being able to get
along well with the natives, several
fights occurred, which resulted in
the killing of about forty Spanish
and eight or ten Ponapeans. All
who remained of the Spanish at the
Morning Stars leaving Ponape, Au-
gust 18th, were imprisoned in the
store-ship Donna Maria de Molina,
and had been there since July ID.
Below is an account of the affair, as
near as | could get it from Mr.. Rand
and others. Many little items are
mentioned as leading up to the eli
max, which happened on the morn
ing of July 4th. First 1 will give a
proclamation issued by the Governor.
You will get the meaning, but per-
haps not the true translation. 1t is
not dated
PROCLAMATION.
His Lordship Don Ysidro Pom
sadilla, Captain of Frigate and Gov
ernor of Eastern Region of Carolines
and Pelews, makes known that the
Government of His Majesty Don AL
phonso Kill, and in his name,
Donna Maria Christina, Regentess
of the Kingdom, has designated him
to represent Spain in this country.
To promote the happiness and we'll
being of the natives and to admins
ter justice equitably. No one will
be troubled on account of his reli-
gious belief. 1t is designed to in
crease trade, agriculture and indus
tries, that the comforts of civilization
at present initiated may continue
and increase.
The story begins March II, 1887,
when the Spanish steam transport
Manila arrived in jamestown harbor,
POnape, with Spanish Governor,
Lieutenant-Governor, a Bishop and
seven priests, officers and garrison,
in all about seventy-fve persons.
The first of the mission to call on
them was Mr.. Rand he went on
board the 14th, and was introduced
to the Governor us the fSchool-
Teacher" The Governors first in
quiry was for Mr.. Doane, at the same
time asking if he lived in his house
on the hill, remarking, " If he don't,
[ shall" When landing the first
time, the Governor said of the house,
ait is a good one, we will occupy it.'
He then tried to rent a house from a
native who lived in it and wanted it
for himself. He finally got it by
threatening to take it without rent.
This house was on the mission
grounds.
March 10th, they began to land on
Mijinong, a part of the mission prem
ises decided to Mr.. D0une and his
successors for the Christians. Kenan
is part of Mijinong, and, according
to Mr.. Rand, was decided to the A.
B. C. f. NJ. in 1870. l believe Mr..
Doane had given the Governor leave
to land on Mijinong, but do not know
why. A boundary was drawn at or
near the limit of Kenan afterwards.
They had regard for the boundary,
but cut trees and built roads wher-
ever they liked.
In a few days the Governor and
priests went on shore to live, stop
ping in temporary houses. What
ever was on the land in the vicinity
they took for their own use without
saying word to anyone. Taking
natives houses, digging their yams,
shooting chickens, taking Mr..
Doane's lines, etc. They also tore
down native house near the mission
to get the lumber for their own use.